Kabul assures security of Indians

Foreign Minister Abdullah said Kabul will take measures to ensure safety of Indians working there.

Seeking to address India's concerns, Afghanistan on Tuesday said it will take "specific measures" to ensure safety of Indians and other foreigners engaged in reconstruction projects in that country.

"The problem has to be tackled at two levels -- improving the security in the country as a whole and taking specific measures when it comes to the safety of those working in construction and development projects," Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, accompanying President Hamid Karzai, stated.

The comments from Abdullah came when referred to India's concerns over safety of hundreds of its nationals working on various reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Monday voiced concern over safety of Indians in Afghanistan as he discussed the issue with Karzai.

Four months ago, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) jawan MR Kutty, engaged in construction of crucial Zaranj-Delaram Highway, was kidnapped and then killed suspectedly by the Taliban in Kandahar province.

Kutty was among around 300 BRO personnel working on the project.

In February, Indian Engineer Bharath Kumar, working with a Turkish firm, was killed in a bomb attack in Farah province.

About 10 Indian doctors deputed to various hospitals in Afghanistan also received threats from Taliban.

Taking the issue seriously, India despatched about 200 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) commandos to Afghanistan last month for proximate security of the Indians engaged in various projects.